12/18/05 - NNHS Newsletter - Ave Maria

"A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away."

~ Eva Logue

    Are you all excited about anything and everything yet?!?

Last night I was listening to one of your oldie CD's. They are quite enjoyable. I ran across your email address while putting away the CD. I had a question for you? I enjoy your WGH website. I go to it about 5 times a week. I was wondering if you ever update it? I enjoy those WGH popometers alot. Will you consider adding more of those to the site? By the way, I am looking for a WGH sunshine spreader sticker and a tenna-topper. Do you know where I could find those items? I'm glad Mr. (Dale) Parsons ('69 - of HI) has started to update his WGH site. It looks so much better. Again your site is great. I just wish it could be updated from time to time.

Have a great Christmas!

Sincerely, Bill Bass

Actually, it is not "my" WGH website.     Carol Buckley Harty '65 maintains the entire NNHS web site (including the WGH page).  When the site was just getting started, and we were finding new and interesting stuff to put up, the content changed frequently.  But, once all that stuff has been found, it is not so easy to change or add content.  I know that Carol is thrilled with any new addition to any of her pages, WGH included, but that relies heavily on the users to find and send new stuff to her.

   Thank you, David!  And yes, I just checked Dale's WGH site again, and it does indeed look great!  Super job, Dale!

   It's not unusual for people seeing the site for the first time to think that Dave is the webmaster - nor is it all that far from the truth.  True, the site itself had been up for a couple of years before Dave joined us, but the real heart and soul and vision of so much of it came from David's creative mind - not to mention the many images (both old and new) and the wonderful music (which I had all but abandoned when he revived it all).

   Thank you for everything, David!

   Thanks so much, Helen!  I'll be taking easy days, so you needn't worry.  "Easy days" are those without new images - much more boring, but much easier for me!  If I wait and do absolutely nothing for a while, the backlog becomes overwhelming, so by doing just a little each day, it's actually easier on me in the long run.

   And besides, every day this month is some kind of holiday for somebody, and it's time to celebrate!!

   But in January when my "baby" boys come home, I'll guarantee there will be some days of pure silence from me.  GIGGLES!!!

   Have a happy, happy holiday, Helen!  (That was just too much fun not to say!)

Hi Carol and    Brenda (Amos Williams -'62 - of VA)

 

Yes, I am the Joan Krause who worked 33 years for Newport News Public Schools as a Principal's Secretary.  I began working at Saunders Elementary School in 1968.    Eleanor Hamilton (former NNHS teacher) was head of Personnel.  George McIntosh was Assistant Superintendent.  Mr. Keesse was in charge of Textbooks and Warehouse with Jack Powers assisting him.  Todd Stadium (and yes,    Mary Katherine Todd - '59 - of VA was Dr. Todd's daughter) had just been completed with a brand new NNPS Administration Building.  The print shop was moved from under the NNHS stadium to the administration building and was headed up by Sam Somervill, who taught Wood Shop at NNHS.  NNPS operated under a "Freedom of Choice" program in an attempt to avoid integrating the schools. This was just 3 years before the federal desegregation court order was handed down.  It was at that time NNHS became Newport News Intermediate School. 

 

My first principal was Kenneth Matthews (he had been principal at Magruder Elementary before Saunders) and my immediate boss was June Loving (Jim Loving NNHS mathematics teacher is her husband), the head librarian for Saunders E.S.  The first year of busing I was assigned to both Saunders ES and Sedgefield ES.  After one year of being "divided", I was assigned full time to Deer Park ES.  Three years later, I was lucky enough to be assigned to Briarfield ES as secretary for Dr. Guy "Sonny" Quesenberry.  He and his wife were teachers at Warwick HS.  I was his secretary for 17 years.  When NNPS reorganized from the intermediate system (grades 8 & 9) to the middle school system (grades 6, 7, & 8) Dr. Q and I were transferred to Dozier Middle School.  That is the school I retired from in 2001.

 

In 1968 when I was first hired the school secretaries had just organized into a professional organization, Newport News Public Schools Secretaries Association.  NNPS required us to have a professional sponsor, who was Miss Kanter (Distributive Education and typing teacher from NNHS).  I believe in 1968 she was the equivalent of today's supervisor for business education instruction.

 

Since I retired I have done quiet a bit of long term substituting for various secretarial positions and have really enjoyed the different jobs.  Folks who I frequently see are:    Dr. Steve Hochman ('60) (also retired),    Belinda Fortner Langston ('70), Harriet Sweet (retired PE teacher), Dr. Al LeBold (  Lucille Phillips' (60) husband - she is also a retired math teacher),    Susan Avent Hill ('66) (she reads your site), and Dick Tyson (WHS).  I frequently run into    Bill Fitzgerald ('58) who was a Ben Franklin Investments rep for years.  His company worked with NNPS employees for insurance and investments.  In fact if anyone out there is a "new" retiree from the Virginia Retirement System and have "PLOP" monies, you might want to get in touch with Bill.  He has worked out a program to help folks manage their retirement funds so the lump sum award doesn't all go into remodeling the kitchen.  :) :)

 

Well, the only other piece of information that might interest some folks is my fat.  :) :)  Over the years I gained quite a bit of weight.  I was very pleasingly plump.   In February 2004 I had gastric bypass surgery and have lost over 130 pounds.  I feel great and believe it is the very best thing I could have done.  When I get smarter about uploading photographs to email I will send you some before and after shots.  A lot of folks don't recognize me now.  But since I have always been a little pushy, I just walk up and reintroduce myself.  When they ask what I did I just say, "Well, I threw it in the dumpster."  Sometimes folks will say I look young.  Then I tell them "It's just good genes and Mary Kay."  Of course I mean the stretch Levi's and good skin care.  Hey, a gal has to do what she has to do.  Right? Right!

   130 pounds?!?  WOWZERONI-RINI!!!  I knew you had lost weight, Joan, but that's an entire adult woman!  That is so impressive I just can't get over it!!!  Congratulations!!!

 

Feel free to edit this long yacky piece.  I just got to going and as usual don't know when to shut up.  Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas.

 

Joan

   You're funny, Lady!  Thanks so much - I enjoyed your note!

   Now see, Brenda?  Wasn't that just so much better than my saying, "Yeppers, that's Joan all right!"?!?